No Fighting Allowed in the Inn-Chapter 138

◎Seven-Step Swamp, the Hidden Sect◎

Master Xu had spent his entire life obsessed with the art of weapon forging. It had always been others who coveted the weapons he crafted—never had he been the one enchanted by another's blade.

Lost in admiration, he blurted out those words without thinking.

By the time he realized it, the words could no longer be taken back.

He stared blankly at Lu Jianwei, his face flushing crimson, much to Jiuyi's amusement.

"Well, well," Jiuyi remarked with a chuckle, "I never thought I'd see the day Master Xu would blush. This trip was certainly worth it. Azhi, Aye, bring out the fine wine we brought. I must drink to commemorate such a rare sight."

The two young servants retrieved a jar of wine and an elegant set of drinking vessels from their luggage, placing them on the stone table in the courtyard.

Xu Sanzuo glared. "Stop mocking me! You ignorant scholar, do you even understand how precious this blade is?"

"Don’t forget, it was I who recognized Shopkeeper Lu, allowing you to witness such a divine weapon. You should be grateful," Jiuyi said, pressing his feathered fan against Xu Sanzuo’s hand as the latter tried to remove the wine jar’s seal. "Ungrateful men don’t deserve my peach blossom brew."

"Fine, fine, I’m grateful!"

The fan lifted, the seal was broken, and a pure, intoxicating aroma of wine wafted through the air.

Xu Sanzuo took a deep breath, still clutching the Frost Coil Blade in one hand while raising a cup with the other, drinking deeply. "A treasured blade and fine wine—truly the greatest joys of my life," he sighed.

"Master Xu, may I have my blade back now?" Lu Jianwei extended her hand.

Xu Sanzuo hastily set down his cup, refusing to let go. "Young Lu, just let me admire it a little longer. I’ll treat you to my finest wine!"

"I don’t care for wine." With a deft flick of her Cloud-Stealing Hand technique, Lu Jianwei effortlessly retrieved the Frost Coil Blade.

The blade slid into its sheath, its glow dimming.

Xu Sanzuo looked as if he had lost a loved one, slumping onto the stone stool, his goatee twitching as he struggled to find words.

"Come now, no blade, but there’s still wine," Jiuyi consoled, refilling his cup. "Don’t be so heartbroken."

Xu Sanzuo stared longingly at the sheathed blade and grumbled, "Ah, the youth these days have no respect for their elders."

"Ah, the elders these days have no care for the young," Lu Jianwei mimicked his tone, shaking her head in mock sorrow. "Pei Zhi, perhaps we should just leave. It’s not like we’re getting any rest here anyway."

Pei Zhi played along. "Agreed."

The two picked up their bags and made to lead their horses away.

"Wait!" Xu Sanzuo exclaimed, slapping his thigh in agitation. "I know what you want, but I can’t agree to it!"

Jiuyi raised an eyebrow. "What do they want?"

The two servants leaned in curiously.

"Do you know where these two are planning to go? The Seven-Step Swamp! That’s no place for anyone! I’m keeping quiet for their own good—why can’t they see that?"

One servant couldn’t help but interject, "Shopkeeper Lu, you mustn’t go. That place is deadly—countless have lost their lives there."

"Indeed," the other added. "We know you’re a Rank Nine Martial King, but the Seven-Step Swamp isn’t something to be taken lightly."

Lu Jianwei: "..."

She had only seen the name "Seven-Step Swamp" in medical texts—the Golden-Winged Poison Locusts originated from there.

Whether in her system’s archives or the world’s medical records, information about the Seven-Step Swamp was scarce.

That alone spoke volumes about its danger.

As the name suggested, those who entered the swamp would perish within seven steps.

Thus, little was known about what lay within.

The Golden-Winged Poison Locusts were only documented because their ability to fly made them visible and capturable outside the swamp.

Whether the Earth Lotus existed in the Seven-Step Swamp remained uncertain.

Pei Zhi had mentioned earlier that the tale of the Earth Lotus came from the imperial physician who once treated him—the man had only glimpsed it in passing and couldn’t confirm its identity.

But the system’s medical texts recorded it, and the Life-Restoring Earth Lotus Formula existed, proving the herb had once been used in medicine.

So the Earth Lotus was real—just exceedingly rare and forgotten by most.

"Wait, what did you just say?" Xu Sanzuo gaped at the servant. "What rank did you say she was?"

"R-Rank Nine."

Xu Sanzuo: "..."

He had assumed the two were, at most, Rank Seven experts. Hearing "Rank Nine" left him utterly stunned.

He pointed at Pei Zhi. "You’re not Rank Nine too, are you?"

Pei Zhi shook his head.

"Oh, thank goodness," Xu Sanzuo exhaled, patting his chest. "Otherwise, this old man’s heart might’ve given out." He turned back to Lu Jianwei. "Now I believe your sect is extraordinary. With such masterful forging skills, it’s only natural. But..."

Lu Jianwei arched a brow. "But what?"

"If you’re dead set on going to the Seven-Step Swamp, I can’t stop you. But before you do, could you at least tell me—who forged this blade? I must pay my respects."

"No."

"How stingy!" Xu Sanzuo crossed his arms, pouting like a child, his wine forgotten.

Jiuyi laughed. "Aren’t you a little old to be sulking? Young people are bound to seek adventure. If they’re determined, just tell them what you know. Better that than letting them charge in blindly and get hurt."

"Hmph! Ignore an elder’s advice, and regret it soon enough."

"Shopkeeper Lu," Jiuyi said gently, "may I ask why you two seek the Seven-Step Swamp? In my youth, I once ventured there with companions, thinking my martial prowess would see me through. I nearly didn’t make it back. Unless it’s urgent, it’s best avoided."

Lu Jianwei answered plainly, "We seek the Earth Lotus—to save lives."

"What’s the Earth Lotus?" the servants asked in unison.

Xu Sanzuo scratched his head. "Never heard of it. Are you sure you’re not being swindled?"

"I’ve heard of it," Jiuyi mused, fanning himself. "But does it truly exist in the Seven-Step Swamp?"

Lu Jianwei shrugged. "Unclear. We’re just trying our luck."

"What exactly is this Earth Lotus? How does it save lives?" Xu Sanzuo pressed.

Jiuyi explained, "A medicinal herb said to stabilize meridians."

"You’re quite learned, Master Jiuyi," Lu Jianwei praised.

"Not compared to you, Shopkeeper Lu. Your generosity in sharing your sect’s medical knowledge with the world is truly admirable."

Xu Sanzuo nodded. "Young Lu may have a sharp tongue, but her heart’s in the right place."

"So, kind elders, would you enlighten us about the Seven-Step Swamp?"

Lu Jianwei had the system’s map and knew the swamp’s location, but its dangers remained unclear. Since these two were familiar with it, she saw no harm in asking.

"You think I’ll just tell you because you asked?" Xu Sanzuo huffed, stroking his goatee. "You won’t answer my questions either."

Lu Jianwei smirked. "Then let’s trade."

"Who’s the forger from your sect? Tell me first!"

"Lu Ke." (The system shared her surname—no issue there.)

"Where does he live?"

"That’s a second question." Lu Jianwei countered, "What dangers lie in the swamp?"

Xu Sanzuo choked back a retort: "Fine, fine. Since you're in such a hurry to meet the King of Hell, I might as well be straight with you. The Golden-Winged Poison Locusts of the Seven-Step Swarm can devour a sixth-level martial master in an instant—no chance to resist."

"And what else?"

Lu Jianwei was fairly familiar with the Golden-Winged Poison Locusts. The Compendium of Toxic Creatures described them as vast in number, frequently appearing in the outer reaches of the Seven-Step Swarm, moving in swarms with formidable combat strength. They craved fresh flesh but could only survive in forested swamps.

Even the most skilled sixth-level martial master couldn’t withstand an endless onslaught of these locusts. Unless the entire swarm was annihilated in one strike, the martial master would inevitably be devoured alive.

A ninth-level Martial King could wipe out a large swarm with a flick of a finger, but the Seven-Step Swarm held countless locusts. Even the mightiest warrior would fall to sheer numbers, like ants overwhelming an elephant.

Only those who had reached the legendary Grandmaster realm stood a chance.

A Grandmaster, if not fully attuned to the harmony of heaven and earth, could still instinctively shield themselves from the senses of most creatures and exude an overwhelming aura to repel even the most fearsome beasts.

Animals possessed an innate instinct to detect danger, and a Grandmaster was far more threatening than any ninth-level Martial King.

"Even so, Shopkeeper Lu isn’t entirely without means to fight back," Jiuyi remarked leisurely. "The Golden-Winged Poison Locusts are still insects, after all. I’ve heard you possess a Yin-Yang Gu Emperor—that should be enough to suppress the swarm."

After ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌‍her confrontation with Helian Zheng at the Carefree Sect, it was no secret that Lu Jianwei had a Yin-Yang Gu in her possession.

Though few knew how such a Gu was refined, everyone knew it could neutralize the deadliest poisons. As the emperor of all Gu, it reigned supreme among insects.

Xu Sanzuo blinked in confusion. "What’s a Yin-Yang Gu?"

Jiuyi explained it to him.

"Young lady, you look so refined—how do you end up tangled up with a bunch of bugs?" Xu Sanzuo wrinkled his nose in distaste. "Even if you can suppress those locusts, the forest is still crawling with venomous snakes, ants, and worse. The swamp hides plenty of man-eating monsters too."

Jiuyi fanned himself lazily. "Shopkeeper Lu’s lightness skill is unparalleled. Avoiding those creatures shouldn’t be difficult."

"What’s wrong with you? Why are you so insistent on pushing her into the swamp?" Xu Sanzuo huffed.

"Not at all," Jiuyi sighed with a faint smile. "It’s just that after hearing Shopkeeper Lu mention retrieving the Earth Lotus to save someone, I couldn’t bring myself to stand in her way."

"Save people, save people—there are countless people in the world who need saving. Should every physician risk their lives gathering herbs?" Xu Sanzuo grumbled. "This old man thinks this trip isn’t worth it."

Jiuyi raised his wine cup idly. "You can’t stop her anyway."

"..."

"Fine, fine." Xu Sanzuo shot a glance at the Frost-Curling Blade. "For the sake of the blade, I’ll see this through. Remember—this old man isn’t worried about you. I’m worried about your blade being lost in the swamp."

Lu Jianwei smiled. "Not just the blade—there’s also a treasured sword."

"Tsk—"

"If I make it out of the swamp, I’ll gift you a fine sword," she offered generously.

Xu Sanzuo waved a hand. "Forget it. I don’t need a sword. Just make sure you come back alive so you can introduce me to that Master Lu you mentioned. That’s what really matters."

"He’s no longer in this world," Lu Jianwei said plainly. "You won’t meet him."

Xu Sanzuo misunderstood, his expression darkening momentarily before he sighed. "The heavens envy talent too soon."

"However, a few of his forging manuals still exist."

Xu Sanzuo’s eyes lit up, but he shook his head. "No, no. Those are your sect’s treasures. How could they be shared with outsiders?"

A thought flickered through Lu Jianwei’s mind, but she didn’t press further. Instead, she asked, "Master Xu, when will you fulfill your promise to ‘see this through’?"

"If you want to know the true dangers of the Seven-Step Swarm, you’ll have to ask the people of White Cloud Village." Xu Sanzuo shook his gourd. "This old man will swallow his pride and take you to plead with their village chief tomorrow."

Lu Jianwei cupped her hands in gratitude. "Thank you, Master Xu."

"I just can’t bear to see a fine blade go to waste," he muttered, turning away.

"You old drunkard. Decades later, and you’re still as contrary as ever." Jiuyi tapped him with his fan, chuckling. "Since there’s nothing else to do, I’ll join you tomorrow as well."

Xu Sanzuo snorted.

As the sun dipped below the western hills, Azhi and Aye finished cleaning and prepared a hearty meal for the table.

The six of them gathered around.

After half a day together, the two young attendants, now face-to-face with figures straight out of legends, had shed their shyness.

Azhi asked curiously, "Shopkeeper Lu, I heard that nowadays, entering the inn requires proof of a clean record. Why is that?"

"The inn doesn’t welcome criminals," Lu Jianwei replied gently. "I prefer giving opportunities to those with kind hearts."

"Oh!" Aye exclaimed in realization, then hesitated. "But I’ve also heard people say that Shopkeeper Lu wants to... um..."

Lu Jianwei arched a brow. "Wants to what?"

"Wants to sift through martial artists and... unite the martial world." Aye averted his gaze, guilt creeping into his voice. "Not that I said it! Others did. Shopkeeper Lu, we all know you’re a good person."

Pei Zhi’s expression darkened. "Where did you hear this?"

"Just chatter in the market. I didn’t catch who said it."

"No matter." Lu Jianwei remained unbothered. "Living in this world means being judged. Some will praise you; others will scorn you. Misunderstandings are inevitable."

Jiuyi poured her a cup of wine, smiling. "Shopkeeper Lu is admirably open-minded."

"Thank you, Master Jiuyi."

"Truthfully, Shopkeeper Lu is already peerless in this era—whether in martial arts, medicine, or Gu techniques, none can rival you. With your noble heart and generosity, uniting the martial world wouldn’t even be difficult."

Lu Jianwei shook her head. "I dare not claim such praise. The martial world teems with masters. Take, for example, the ninth-level ancestor who escaped the Carefree Sect—his martial skill surpasses mine. In medicine, the Divine Physician Valley has countless experts; I wouldn’t presume superiority. And in Gu techniques, the centuries-old Gu God Sect of the southwest remains beyond my reach."

"Shopkeeper Lu, you’re far too modest!" Azhi interjected. "They say that ancestor fled before you even subdued Helian Zheng—proof he didn’t dare face you directly. The physicians of Divine Physician Valley are still studying at your inn, and you’ve even refined the Gu Emperor of the Gu God Sect! If you’re not the best, then who is?"

Lu Jianwei countered, "The ancestor didn’t flee because he feared confronting me."

"Then why?"

"These past few days, I’ve been pondering something." She glanced at Jiuyi. "If he truly was the former master of the Thousand Miles Tower, and knew my sect had ninth-level Martial Kings, why use Zhuang Wenqing as a pawn? Why abandon even Helian Zheng?"

Jiuyi sipped his wine lazily. "Why indeed?"

"He’s searching for the hidden sects—or rather, using me as a means to find them." She paused, then turned abruptly to the two attendants. "You’ve heard of the hidden sects, haven’t you?"

For a split second, their expressions froze before smoothing over.

"I've heard about it. Back then, Helian Zheng mentioned that you had the backing of a reclusive sect." Azhi's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Manager Lu, is it true that you come from a reclusive sect?"

Lu Jianwei responded with a light chuckle.

"The food's getting cold. Let's eat."